Ottawa
The Southeast - Ontario
Interesting facts about Ottawa
Description: Ottawa is the capital of Canada. It is located in the eastern part of the province of Ontario on the Ottawa River, directly on the border with Quebec. Ottawa means “trader” in the language of the Algonquin, a people who traded on the river at the time of settlement. Gatineau lies on the opposite bank. Ottawa itself has a population of around 1 million and is the sixth largest city in Canada. Together with Gatineau, Ottawa forms the fourth largest metropolitan area in Canada.
Our hotels
Our visits: So far 2 visits in September 2002 and October 2025
Around Parliament Hill
Description:Ottawa is the capital of Canada. So you will find the Parliament and some other government buildings around Parliament Hill. Since most of these buildings are built in the Victorian style, they offer pretty photo motifs and attract many tourists. Currently, the government buildings are being renovated and thus you may find huge construction sites everywhere. (Status October 2025). These renovations will still take some time and so it is perhaps advisable to inquire about the latest status of the construction work before planning a visit.
Another attraction is located right next to the Parliament. The Rideau Canal Locks. The canal with its locks connects the Ottawa River and Ottawa with the city of Kingston and the Ontario Lake. Opened in 1832, the canal is 202km long and is the oldest man-made waterway in North America. In 2007 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our rating: Many of Ottawa's sights are within walking distance. We found this very pleasant during our visit. Unfortunately, there was still a huge construction site around the Parliament Building. On the one hand, it was not possible to visit the building, of course, and on the other hand, the many cranes did not look so great in the photos. Nevertheless, we found our little tour of the government district interesting and worth seeing.
Byward Market
Description:The Byward Market is a shopping and entertainment district in downtown Ottawa. The market district includes the market halls and an open-air market. The name is derived from the old city district “By.” The “By” comes from the surname of engineer John By, the first surveyor of the area.
Our rating: During our visit in fall 2025, we chose a hotel in the historic Byward Market district. There is something to do and discover here all day long. There are plenty of restaurants and pubs, as well as small shops and the huge Rideau Centre mall. It's never boring here, no matter what time of day it is.
National Gallery of Canada
Description: The museum was founded in 1880. Since 1988, the museum has been located in its current building, designed by architect Moshe Safdie. The permanent collection now comprises more than 96,000 works. The collection focuses on works by Canadian artists such as members of the Group of Seven and Emily Carr. However, many international artists are also represented in the collection.
Admission fees: 22CAD/Person
Opening hours: open daily except Mondays
Our rating: Unfortunately, we didn't have much time for the museum during our visit. So we mainly spent our time in the Canadian artists' section. This museum is simply magnificent, and my opinion is certainly biased because I am involved in art myself, but this museum is really worth a visit. If we stop in Ottawa again in the future, we will definitely visit it again.
Kiweki Point
Description: Kiweki Point is a hill overlooking the Ottawa River. It is located between the National Gallery of Canada and Alexandra Bridge. In October 2022, the former Nepean Point was renamed Kiweki Point to “highlight the voices of the Algonquin people and represent their culture and language.” Kiweki means “return to the homeland” in the Algonquin language. The newly designed viewpoint reopened in May 2025 after nearly six years of renovation.
Our rating: Very beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Ottawa River, Ottawa, and Gatineau. Definitely worth a short detour.
Rideau Falls
Description: Rideau Falls are two waterfalls located approximately 2 km north of downtown Ottawa. They are about 11 m high and are located at the point where the Rideau River flows into the Ottawa River. Above the falls is a dam that regulates the flow of the river and was formerly used to generate power.
Our rating: Pretty little waterfalls on the edge of downtown Ottawa. This is certainly not a must-see, but it's a nice trip into nature in the middle of a big city. One more note: there is no parking directly at the waterfalls. We parked on the other side of the street.
Parc de la Gatineau
Description: Gatineau Park is a recreational area north of the Canadian capital Ottawa. It lies between the Ottawa and Gatineau river valleys and covers an area of over 361 km². The entire park is covered by forest and is home to over 50 species of mammals and over 200 species of birds. There is a parkway that connects the numerous hiking trails and viewpoints. One of the main attractions, besides nature, is the Mackenzie King Estate, the home of the former prime minister.
Admission fees: There is no charge to drive on the parkway. Some of the parking lots are subject to a fee.
Opening hours: varies seasonally
Our rating: We really liked the park. Especially in fall, when the trees are beautifully colored, it's always great to drive through the woods. However, it's always particularly busy then. This was also the case during our visit to the park. The crowds of people detracted considerably from the experience. For example, it was impossible to visit Pink Lake because there was simply nowhere to park, even several kilometers away from the actual parking lot.
